Photograph from an album of 41 albumen prints by Edmund David Lyon. Lyon's 'Notes to Accompany a Series of Photographs Prepared to Illustrate the Ancient Architecture of Southern India', edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this view of the interior of the hall called the Pudhu Mandapam built by Tirumala Nayaka, (reigned 1623-59), at the Minakshi Sundareshvara temple in Madurai: 'This view shows the central Nave of this magnificent building. It is taken from the east end. The whole of it is generally appropriated as one immense bazaar, every available spot being occupied by the different objects exhibited for sale. The scene on entering is gay and animated, but the stalls detract much from the beauty of the building, which, to be appreciated as it deserves, should be seen clear of all such encumbrances as it is represented in the photograph.'